Door-hanger.



M.. QOSSBY. noR-HANGEJ. APPLICATION FILED 00T. z, 1906.

Armen/H.

Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

UNITED, s'TATEs PATENT OFFICE. n

Minton4 cossEY, or NEW YORK, iv. Y., AssIeNon To BELIANCE BALL-SEARING noonl `I-Iaiveusn co., oF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION'OF NEW YoRK.-

Doon-HANGER.

y To all whom. it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, M-YRON Cossnr, a citizen of the United States, and resident ot' the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new 'and useful Improvements in Door-Hangers, of which the following is a specification. l This invention relates to door hangers, and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and' efcient hanger in which antifriction devices are interposed between the bar from which the door is suspended and the xed bar or track whichsupports the door in its lateral movements. The antivfriction devices will preferably be balls and the track bar and rider-bar will have semicircular grooves in their opposing edges for greater length than the rider-bar is cmployed to maintain the balls m relative position to each other and thus insure a proper l support for the door throughout the extent ot' its movement, and means areprovided to prevent the spacing-.bar from lifting and maintain' it in substantially horizontal positlonbetween the track-bar and the riderbarand out of contact with both.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved connecting device between the door and its rider-bar.

In Patent No. 809,781, granted to me January 9th, 1906, I have illustrated and described a hanger comprising three parallel 35;,bars of Which'thetwo outer bars are fixed and constitute track-bars, and the middle bar constitutes the rider-bar for the door. A and moves between the track-bars.

with doors where it is essential to prevent any vertical or lateral movement of. the upper part of the door at Vany angle toits normal path of movement. Elevator'doors may be cited as an example and particularly those which are opened automatically by the l moving elevator. ,'-Ihere are, however, many ca'ses where it is not essential to-prevent the movements above described but merely to, limit them, while at lthe same time providing for easy and rapid lateral `movemen-tof the' S'pecicaton of Letters Patent.

yof the door.

Patented sept.' 12,1911.

Application filed October 2, 1906. Serial No. 337,105.

door and in such cases less expensive hangers than that illustrated in said patentmay very advantageously be employed, and which will meet all requirements under normal and ordinary conditions. Sliding doors, in private residences, oltices, etc., may be cited asillustrations, and, Ain fact, any sliding door not liable to be subjected to abnormal strains may very advantageously be suspended by hangers constructed4 in accord ance with my present invention.

I will now proceed to describe a preferred embodiment of my invention, reference being had to the accol'npanying drawings in which z*- Figure 1 is anelevation of a portion of a door suspendedby my improved hanger; Figa 2 is an end view of the track and its receiving the balls. Also a spacing bar, of...

'bers of which are secured to any suitable support, by screws or bolts- 13. The horizontal member of each angle-ln'acket'is provided with a threaded hole to receive' a setscrew 14, the end of which engages the lower edge of the track-bar,and the latter is provided near each end with an elongated slot 15 `through which a' set-screw 16 passes into the verticalv member of the angle-bracket and serves to clamp the bar against 'such member.

f 17 designates the rider-bar which is connected. to the door by hangers. A preferred formof connecting device is illustrated and consists of two vertically extending arms 18, connected at their lower ends in any suitablel manner to a bar 19fwhich rests upon the top of the door. `This connecting device is secured, to the door by 'means of a plate 21 which extends between the arms and isprovided with a transverse gro-ove tov receive the base 19 in such manner that the plate will rest. uponfsaid base'and also u on the top As shown the p ate extends beyond the arms yon each side thereof, and is securedv to the door by screws Q0 or other devices'. The plate may also be recessed on the sides to receive the arms 18, so that the side'edges of the platewill be flush with the 'outer` faces of the arms. The plate in elfect constitutes an extended base-support for .the arms. This construction provides a secure and rigid .connection between the door and the connecting-device and, by reason of, the .extended ba.se, ,materially decreases the liability of the device becoming loose-and permitting the door to sag. The arms 18 straddle the. track-bar and vthe rider-bar and are secured at their upper end to the latter by bolts or rivets 23, spacing-blocks 24 being preferably interposed between 4the arms 18I and the bar 17 to provide spaces between the arms and the track-bar.l l

The .bars 10 and 17 have semi-circular grooves `in their-`opposing edges `to receive the balls 25. Any numberof balls may be used, depending upon the width of the door, yandwpreferably 'there will be a sufficient number so arranged that two or more, and preferably more, will always be between the track and 'the rider bars. In the present ease six balls'are shown, and are so arranged that at least'three and sometimes four will be between the bars no matter what the po sition of the door may be. In order to maintain the balls inproper relative posi.- tion I employ what-I shall term a spacer, and which consists of a flat metal bar 26 of less thickness than the space between the 30 bars 10 and 17, when the balls are between them. This bar. is provided with a series of tapered holes 27 which are preferably uniformly spaced apart and et a diameter at lthe lower side of the spacergslightly greater than that .of the balls, and at the upper side of the spacer slightly less than that of the balls inV order that the balls may turn in substantially equal to the width o saidV holes without undue friction, but at the same time be prevented from jumping out of the spacer. i

' As shown, the length of the rider bar 17 is the door l and in ordinary cases the range of travel of the door will be equal to twice its width.

The .balls and the spacer will normally travel at half the speed of the door and consequently .the balls and spacer will move` only half the distance thev door moves. In order,itherefore, to have a substantially uniform anti-friction support for the rider bar throughout -its length and throughout the extent of its movement it is necessary to have the spacer longer than the rider-bar' in order that the rider-bar when it passes olf one ball will move on to another. If it were intended that one'end of the spacer should be inthe same vertical plane as one end of the rider-bar when the door is at its. extreme position then/the length of the spacer should be 1one and a half times that ofthe riderbar.` As shown however, the, spacer-bar stops at a point somewhat short 'of that at which the rider-bar stops and, consequently, its length is less than one and a half times the length of the rider-bar. The relative length shown in the drawing have, in pract'ice, been quite satisfactory and six balls rranged as shown have given excellentv results in the easy ruiming of the door. The spacer may, however, bdrelativcly longer or shorter than as shown, :ind more or less balls than six may be employed with good and perhaps better results, and I therefore do not limit myself to exact proportionsl of length of the spacer and rider-bar solong as the former is substantially longer than the latter, nor to the number of balls, so long as there are enough, properly spaced apart, to insure at least two between the rider-bar and the track-bar throughout the full extent of the movement of the rider-ba'. A preferable construction is however, one i'n which half the number or more of the balls rider-bar, and also one in which at least one ofthe balls will he disengaged by the rider-' bar in any point in the movement 'ot the latter. l l

It is not essential that the lengtlml of the rider-bar be equal to the width of t ie door, although I prefer 4that it should bcubc,- cause it insures a perfect balance of the door. lGood results, however, can 'be attained with a rider-bar of'less length than the width of the door.

To obtain 'the best results in the ca -sy running' of the door it is desirable that the spacer 2G shall not engage either of the hars 10 or 17, which would cause considerable" substantially horizontal or parallel to the bars l0 and 1T. For this purpose I pro ide what may be termed a supporting and h )lding device, arranged as shown at each end of the spacer, which devices will support lthe spacer out of Contact with the track-bar and hold it against upward movement'to engage the-rider bar.l As shown, these hold.- ing and spacing devices are formed o f fiat strips' of metal having a middle portion 28 and end portions 29 and 30 extending at right angles therefrom. The end portion 29 of each device is riveted or otherwise vrigidly secured to the spacer on its upper surface, one being at each end thereof, and each end portion is provided with a holo 31 of less diameter' than' theI holes 27'in the spacer and also less than that ofthe balls 25 and the ball will project through the hole 3]v suticientlyto be* engaged by the bar 17 and prevent engagement between said bar and the spacer. Since the holes 3l are of less diameter than that of the balls 25, it is obvious that the spacer `will be. supportcdby the end' balls and (consequently there will be no. friction between the spacer and the bars lOand 17. The other cndportion 30 extends under the track-bar l() just out ol coutact .therewith but close enough thereto to door, and, further, that 1t be maintained' prevent any material upward movement of the spacer at either end. The middle portion QS of each supporting and holding device may extend parallel to either the front or the rear face of the track-bar and will be out of engagement therewith. Obviously, instead of having the supporting and hold.- ing devices arranged over the twoend balls they may be arranged over any other two balls of the series.

Preferably, 'each hanger will be provided with a rivet or pin 32 secured in the arms 18 below the track-bar 10, out of engagement therewith but sufficiently close thereto to prevent upward movement of the door sufficient to disengage the rider-bar from the balls 25.

n Any suitable means may be employed to limit the movement of the door in either direction and I do not deem it necessary to illustrate any special means.-

In order to prevent the balls and spacer from running beyond the ends of the trackbar, I provide stops 33 on the traclebar'll), near each end thereof, in the path ofY movement, of the spacer and balls. These stops may e secured to the bar in any suitableL manner.

The object 0f having the track-bar ver tically adjustable is to enable it to be raised at either or both ends in the event the door binds at the bottom from any cause what soever. Also sometimes -it may be desirable to elevate one end of the track-bar in order that the door may move in one direction .by gravity.

Ha ving described my invention'I claim "l. In a door hanger, the combination of a fixed traclebar, Ya rider-bar to which the door may be connected, a series of balls between the track-bar. and rider bar, a spacer having openings in which said balls are loosely retained and may freely turn, bearings in said spacer, and additional supporting ballsI fitting said bearings and travelingv on said track bar whereby the spacer is held out of contact with both bars.

2. In a door-hanger, the combination of a fixed track-bar and a rider bar, to which vthe door may be connected, said bars having grooves in their opposite edges, balls in said grooves, a spacer of greater length than the rider-bar interposed between said bars and having openings therein within which 'the balls are loosely vretained and may freely turn, and means for supporting the spacer out ofcontact with both bars comprising additional balls traveling` on said track bar.

3. In a door hanger, the combination with a door, of a, fixed track-bar and a rider-bar, of a connecting device comprising two vertical arms which straddle said bars and are connected at their upper ends to the riderbar, a base to which the lower ends of the bar are connected and which rests upon the door, a plate extending between said-arms above the base and beyond said arms'on each side, and means for securingsaid plate'. to the door.

4. In a door-hanger, thecombinationwith a door, a fixed track-bar and arider-bar. et' a connecting device,comprising two vertical arms which straddle the. said bars and are connectcdat their upper ends to the rider' bar, a base to whiehthe lower ends of the bar are connected and which rests upon the door, a plate extending between said arms at each sidefsaid plate resting on the door and having to receive the base. and arms, and means for securing said plate to the door.

5. In a door-hanger, the combination of a fixed track-bar, a rider-bar to which a. door may be connected, a series of balls between said bars, a spacer' interposed `between said bars and having tapered openings therein within which the balls are loosely retained and may freely turn, and a pair of supporting and holdingdevices. each comprising two connected horizontal portions. one of said horizontal portions being secured to the upper surface of the spacer above one of the openings therein and having an opening of less diameter than that of the balls, and the other horizontal portion extending under' the track-bar in close proximity thereto.

6. In a door-hanger, the combination of a fixed track-bar,A a rider-bar to which the door may be connected, a series of balls between said bars, a spacer interposed between said bars and having tapered `openings therein said openings being -of greater diameter than the balls on the 'lower surface of the spacer and of less dia'meter on the upper surface thereof, and within whichopenings the balls are loosely retained and may freely turn7 means for movably supporting said spacer comprising two balls interposed between said spacer and track, and means for restricting upward movement of said spacer.

bars having upwardly tapering (menings therethrough to loosely receive and retain the balls, the upper end of the openings being of less diameter than the balls, and means for movably supporting sai-d spacer at its ends on said track'bar whereby it will not rest-on intermediate balls.

8. In a` door-hanger, the combination of a fixed track-bar, a, rider-bar to which a door may be connected, a series of balls between said bars, a spacer interposed betweenl said bars having openings therethrough in which the balls are loosely received and may freely turn, the structure being such as to retain said balls against removal through a carria e having a vrest on intermediate balls,

the topsz; of said openings, andv separated antifrlctiqnmeans for supporting said spacer ou't'of 4contact with said'track bar.`

9. In a device of the character set forth, a track having a deepl groove in its upper face, a traveling carriage above said track,

a series of balls received in said groove and supporting said carriage, a ball-carrier hav` ing openings of less diameter than said balls and receiving each a portion of the upper hemisphere of one of said balls, whereby the latter are held against passingV completely through said carrier, and means for holding said carrier against lift-ingrelatively to said tracki l l 10. In a door-hanger, the combination of a xed track-bar, a rider-bar to which a door may be connected, a series of balls be?v tween said barsra spacer interposed between said bars having upwardly taperingopenings therethrough to loosely receive and retain the balls, the upper end of theopenings being of less .diameter thanl the balls, means 'for movably supporting said spacer at its ends onsaid track bar wherebyit will not and means for re' st'ricting upward movement of said spacer. 11,A In a -device ofthe character set forth, a track having a groove in its upper face,

groove 1n a Inova le` ball carrier interposed between the adjacent face of said track and carriage',

'A balls looselypretained therein and engaging said track and carriage, vand means for supporting said carrier from said track 1n posiits under face, i

the friction on said loosely alls, and means for holding said carrier x against' lifting relativelyto said track.

with a lfixed track bar, of a rider bar, arms straddling the track bar at ,different points and adapted to support a door, below said track bar, a series of ballsbetween said bars,

a movable spacer interposed between saidr bars and adapted to travel between saidde-I4 pending arms, thesaid spacer having openings therethrough in which the balls are loosely held, and means connected to said spacer at its ends beyond said` straddling arms extending down below said ,track for tively to saidltrack.

In a door hanger, the combination 6o. lolding said carrier against lifting` rela In witness whereof, I have signed my' name to the foregoing specification in the" presence of two subscribing witnesses.

` MYRON 4COS'SEY. Witnesses: V

' H.' R. BAUER,

E. CRUsE. 

